A new horror series has arrived on television screens, and critics are calling it one of the best Stephen King adaptations in years. It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel to the hit “It” movies, began its run on HBO and HBO Max in late October. The show expands the story of the terrifying Pennywise the Clown and has been praised for its faithful approach to King’s signature style of storytelling.
What Is It: Welcome to Derry?
It: Welcome to Derry is a new horror series that serves as a prequel to the 2017 and 2019 films “It” and “It: Chapter Two.” The show was developed by the same team behind the movies, director Andy Muschietti, producer Barbara Muschietti, and screenwriter Jason Fuchs. Andy Muschietti directed the first four episodes of the series.
Set in the early 1960s in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, the story takes place years before the events of the original “It” films. It aims to show the origins of the ancient evil known as Pennywise and the dark history of the town itself. Bill Skarsgård returns to play the terrifying clown, Pennywise.
A Faithful Stephen King Experience
A common point of praise in early reviews is how much the series feels like reading a Stephen King novel. Critics note that the show captures the pacing, tone, and visual style of King’s massive 1986 book.
“They feel like reading King’s book. The pacing, the tone, the visual look and style, all of it is like King’s novel manifest on the screen,” wrote one reviewer.
The series spends a lot of time building its world and characters, letting the audience wander around the town and get to know the lives of its residents. This approach helps build a deep sense of dread and makes the horror moments more impactful.
The Story and Cast of Characters
The series opens in January 1962, introducing a young boy named Matty who goes missing in Derry. Four months later, the story picks up with a group of children who become determined to find out what happened to him. The young cast includes characters like Lilly, a girl struggling after a stay in a mental hospital; Ronnie, who faces racism in the town; and their friends Teddy and Phil.
Alongside the children’s story, the series follows the adult world. U.S. Air Force Major Leroy Hanlon arrives at the Derry airbase and soon realizes that the secret military work happening there is stranger and more dangerous than he imagined. The show also features Dick Hallorann, a character familiar to King fans from “The Shining,” connecting the story to a wider King universe.
The show does not shy away from the darker aspects of its setting. It uses the racism and social tensions of the 1960s era to build a backdrop of real-world horror that parallels the supernatural evil rising from the sewers.
How Scary Is the Show?
Early reviews suggest that It: Welcome to Derry is not holding back on its horror elements. Critics have described it as violent, intense, and at times, even more disturbing than the films that came before it.
“The show is signaling from the jump that it really wants to scare us, and I have to admit I was kind of impressed,” said one critic.
Another wrote about an “insane body-horror sequence the likes of which I have never seen before.” The series contrasts its moments of extreme supernatural terror with the very real anxieties of its historical setting, creating a layered and potent sense of fear.
How Does It Compare to Other King Adaptations?
The series arrives at a time when several new Stephen King adaptations are being released. Critics are already placing It: Welcome to Derry high on the list of successful King translations to screen.
“It is among the best and most King-like, faithful expansions of his terrifying worlds and novels,” stated a Forbes review, placing it alongside classics like “The Shining,” “Misery,” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”
While some critics felt the series’ multiple storylines were not always perfectly balanced, the general consensus is that it is a strong and worthy addition to the “It” franchise. The show is seen as a significant improvement over some other recent King adaptations and a successful expansion of the mythology for fans.
The first five episodes of It: Welcome to Derry are now available, with new episodes releasing weekly on HBO and HBO Max.
Also Read: IT: Welcome to Derry – Matty’s Fate and the Shocking Premiere Explained
